Luahanku....君子之风: My trip to North Thailand-March/April 2019 (ChiangMai to Chiangrai) Day 4 and Day 5

So fast, it already moves to day 4, and this morning I was getting ready to go Chiangrai, the main purpose because of this "White temple"...wanted to see this famous temple. Hence, I am so happy that professor P is able to send me there with his car.

Breakfast before checked-out from the hotel

All my luggage and bags waiting for PP

Sitting outside Shane Hotel, Chiangmai

The journey along the way is quite nice, it is mountainous (quite similar like the journey we take from Gombak to Bentong using the Karak highway, though they only have national roads and not highway, and it takes a few hours for the 200KMs. The sceneries along the way passing by some smaller towns with its own cafes and restaurants are quite interesting to see for me.

The 3 pictures given below are one of the cafes we stopped at, for our coffee and tea, its called coffee cafe. It is located next to a nice padi field, and I think the design concept of the cafe is quite cool and nice. ANd they made quite a nice milk tea for me, of which I am grateful.

We arrived at the white temple, Chiangrai around 1PM, and went over to the white temple, Wat Rong Khun. It was built by a local artist here, and it looks very elegant, But then due to the hazy weather, taking pictures were not as good as it was supposed to be.

the majestic white temple, look at the sky, it is so hazy

A picture with professor P

Beside the white temple,in the same compound, you have the gold temple

The Gents, also looks golden nah...haha

After the white temple, we went for lunch at a restaurant opposite the white temple, just a simple one. But a problem arise after that, PP's car cannot start, due to flat batteries, hence another ordeal starts. And because he is a Tourism Professor at CMU, he has many ex students around and he sent a message out in his group asking for SOS, help. Immediately he received messages and help came, in the form of local policemen, with their patrol car together with cables. Finally the car was able to restart, and next, we went to a mechanic to check the condition of the battery or was it due to the faulty part of the dynamo, and it has been confirmed due to flat batteries. Next was finding a battery shop, got them changed and then went to a hostel, known as Spinomad, also recommended by his ex-student.

Battery went flat

Spinomad hotel, Professor P with his ex-student

Hotel lobby

After checked into the hotel, getting some rest, PP showed me around Chiangrai city, it is just a small city and the nite market is within the main street (all a short walking distance from our hotel). Went to the clock tower, which is one of the famous landmarks here. Then we at dinner in one of the local restaurant. where the next few pictures below showed the different kind of food we have taken.

Golden clock tower

These various food we have taken in Chiangrai at nite time. Food is a bit expensive here as it is touristy spot.

Famous noodles, Khao Soi.

The city is very small, after close to one hour exploring and having our dinner, we walked back to the hotel and took a rest.

The next morning, we had our breakfast in the hotel and it tasted quite good, except the tea and coffee served. Right after that, we checked out, and then went to the next famous place, a black theme museum.

Breakfast served at the hotel

Poorly done tea

The pictures below show the black museum or known as Baandam Museum, which is mainly made of solid wood and again, designed by a famous local artist, trying to tell people that there are two sides of human being, one being nice, and the other side, being evil. Again, there are many Chinese tourists here.

Full bloom plant in this area.

A piece of art drawn by the museum designer and owner.

The museum is about 17km away from Chiangrai city centre, and it is in a hidden corner of the main road. But with google maps, finding is quite easy.

Later, after we have done with the museum, we drove back to Chiangmai, and enroute, we again stopped by first at a nice cafe, but is was closed, and hence we moved to another restaurant. What attracted us to this restaurant is what was written on their advertisement board, where they mentioned Penang noodles (wantan noodles) is served. I didnt take it, but instead took a local fried noodle (something like fried hor fun), which tasted delicious.

Fried Thai hor fun, which tastes really good

I am not sure where I have taken this picture, must be on the way back to Chiangmai.

This is the Sandouk Hostel. Chiangmai the hotel i stayed after coming back from Chiangrai.

As we are very tired from the long journey, and since we managed to be back to hotel earlier, hence both of us went for a Thai body massage after my check in. It was a good massage, and right after, PP sent me back to the hostel, and he went back to his own house. it was a good massage, and I rested well this evening.